Baby-hammock.



Patented Nov 14, 1916.

2 SHEETSSHEET 1.

J. DOSER.

BABY HAMMOCK.

APPLICATION FILED DEC-6,1915.

Patentd Nov. 14, 1916;

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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JOHN DOSER,. 0]? LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

BABY-HAMMOCK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 114, 19116.

Application filed December 6, 1915. Serial No. 65,408.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JOHN DOSER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Baby-Hammocks, of which the following is a specification.

This invention comprehends improvements in hammocks for infants and has for one of its objects to provide. a hammock of extremely light and durable construction which when not in use may be quickly detached from its support and folded into a very compact form.

Another object of the invention is to provide a. hammock especially adapted for carrying infants in automobiles or other vehicles where they would be subjected to considerable jar.

A further object of the invention is to provide in a hammock of this nature resilient means of connection between the body of the hammock and the hangers, and a resilient member for connection to a relatively non-movable body and the hammock to absorb the rebound.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an infants hammock which may be quickly converted into a chair swing.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in certain novel features in construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter fully described, illustrated and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the hammock connected to a vehicle and supporting a child. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of one end of the hammock showing a hanger and the resilient connections between the same and the body of the hammock. Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view through the hammock. Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view illustrating the shock absorbing member and its method of connection. Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing the hammock as it appears when converted into a chair swing. Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view through the chair swing taken on a plane parallel to one side thereof. Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view showing a portion of the blank from which the modified form of stretcher illustrated in Fig. 8 is formed. Fig. 8 is a fragmentary side elevation showing a modified form of stretcher, and Fig. 9 is a section on the plane of line 9-9 of Fig. 8.

In the drawings, the numeral 10 designates an automobile body to the sides 11 and 12 of. which is connected myv infants hammock.

The hammock comprises .a body 13 preferably formed of a stout fabric and having connected to one of its longitudinal edges :1. flap 14 somewhat shorter in length than the body. This flap extends over the body to cover the occupant of the hammock. A retaining strap 15 loosely encircles the hammock and is prevented from lateral movement by means of the guides or loops 16. A buckle 17 connects the ends of the strap.

Secured to each end of the body is a stretcher rod 18 having its ends inturned to form hooks 19 which are stitched to the fabric and prevent a longitudinal movement of the rods. Connected to each of the rods 18 is a pair of helical springs 20 which form connections between the rods and the hangers 21. Each of these hangers is preferably formed from a. single length of material bent to provide a central portion 22 substantially equal in length to the rods 18, and end portions 23 projecting at right angles to the central portion. As best shown in Fig. 2, the central portion is bent back upon itself near each end to provide eyes 24, to receive the outer ends of the resilient members 20. The terminal portions of the arms 23 are bent to form hooks and are incased in rubber sleeves 25 so that they Will not mar the object to which the hammock is secured.

The springs 20 absorb all shocks and jars occasioned by a downward movement of the hammock support and to provide an absorber for the shocks occasioned by the rebound, I provide the spring 26 which is connected at one end to the floor of the car by a staple 27 and at its other end to the strap 15 by the hook 28.

In place of the stretcher rods 18 I find it convenient at times to employ a member of the construction illustrated in Figs. 7-9 inclusive. The blank 29 shown in Fig. 7 may be stamped out of sheet metal and is provided as shown, with the extensions 30 and 31 which are perforated with openings 32 and said blank is further formed with I and when said sides are pressed together they bite into the fabric firmly, anchoring the metal thereto.

To convert 'the hammock into a chair swing such as shown in Fig. 5, the flap 14 is folded across the body 13 in engagement therewith, then the two hangers are moved toward each other until the distance between them is equal to the desired width of the swing to be formed. Then the overhanging portion of the flap 14 is caught together by a button 34 or other suitable fastening. After this has been done, a seat 36 of some non-yieldable material is placed in the swing and holds the sides in proper spaced relation. A strap 37 may be secured across the open front of the swing to prevent an infant from falling therefrom. When stretchers of the construction shown in Figs. 7-9 inclusive are employed, the strap 37 is provided with hooks to engage in the openings through the extensions 31.

It will be noted that the eyes 24 of the hangers are located adjacent the ends of the central portions thereof so that the strain is brought tobear almost in alinement with the arms of the hangers, so that there is no danger of the hangers being bent by the weight of the occupant of the hammock. The springs 20 serve equally well in both the hammock 1 and swing formation of the device to absorb shocks and make a very easy and restful support.

From the foregoing description taken in connection .with the accompanying draw ings, it will be apparent that I have provided a very simple and inexpensive hammock, and while I have shown the preferred embodiment of my invention it will be unof U-shaped formation, the free terminals of the arms of said hanger being curved to provide hooks and the central portion of the hanger being bent back upon itself in a plurality of faces to form eyes, said eyes being located adjacent the inner ends of the arms, and resilient members connected at their outer ends to said eyes and at their inner ends to the stretcher rod.

2. In a hammock, a hanger, comprising,'

a body member, a pair of sprlngs secured thereto and in spaced relation to each other, parallel hooked arms formed at the opposite ends of the bodyJinember, and a. frame member adapted to be engaged by the ends of the springs whereby a fabric hammock body may be suspended therefrom.

3. In a hammock, a hanger, comprising a central body portion, spring engaging eyes formed adjacent the outer ends of said body portion, hooked arms extending paral lel from each other from the ends of said body portion, springsadapted to be hooked at one end Within the engaging eyes, a hammock stretcher secured by its opposite ends to the free ends of the spring and a fabric hammock body adapted to be supported upon said stretcher.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

' JOHN DOSER. 

